I've read a couple previews this morning and I'm more and more intrigued by this game. I haven't been paying too much attention to things since they announced the game. I like the talk about the character creation asking a bunch of questions to customize your background. I hope there are enough choices and differences in stories. I also like how the WvW pvp will just show your opponents as "red invader" instead of seeing your opponents names. Does anyone know if you can use PVP as a primary source of leveling? I really need to research the race/profession stuff to try and figure out what best suites me.

I also like how the WvW pvp will just show your opponents as "red invader" instead of seeing your opponents names. Does anyone know if you can use PVP as a primary source of leveling? I really need to research the race/profession stuff to try and figure out what best suites me.

I've read a couple previews this morning and I'm more and more intrigued by this game. I haven't been paying too much attention to things since they announced the game. I like the talk about the character creation asking a bunch of questions to customize your background. I hope there are enough choices and differences in stories. I also like how the WvW pvp will just show your opponents as "red invader" instead of seeing your opponents names. Does anyone know if you can use PVP as a primary source of leveling? I really need to research the race/profession stuff to try and figure out what best suites me.

Re: leveling in PvP: doing organized PvP (as in regular, drop-in or planned matches) will boost you to the max level with all your abilities available. In this mode, you could actually be level 5 or whatever and it won't matter, as far as I can understand.

To actually level up in PvP, you'd need to do WvWvW, which is a viable leveling path. I think I heard there's no difference between PvE and PvP gear, so gearing up should work either way you go at it.

Same. Hoping for an invite, then I will try out PvE but really want to try WvW to see how close it comes to bringing back the DAOC feel. Had some fun RvR times in DAOC and from what I read and see in videos it looks like GW2 has the best chance of any game so far to feel the same way.

Same. Hoping for an invite, then I will try out PvE but really want to try WvW to see how close it comes to bringing back the DAOC feel. Had some fun RvR times in DAOC and from what I read and see in videos it looks like GW2 has the best chance of any game so far to feel the same way.

I can neither confirm or deny that stepping into the WvWvW area feels exactly like DAoC frontiers...

I'll be around for good chunks on Friday and Saturday night, no promises above and beyond that. I'm aiming to get together in some WvW and some PVE action, but beyond that, I don't really have a huge standing desire to do any specific thing.

I would like to point out this Game Informer video, which has Jonathan Sharp (system designer) doing an interview while playing the game with and against other developers (who are not on the interview Vent). There is no new information, but I think it's nice as an overview of the game for people who don't know much or anything about GW2 and also for those who have followed it some to get a better feel for the depth of the game in general and combat in particular.

Watching that video now. Nothing amazing as far as revelations but I've never seen this much continuous 'real' gameplay and it makes me very very happy.

Multiple people being able to use gathering nodes = win.

I saw something where someone made a comment and it came up in a speech bubble from their portrait in the party window. I can see that being so massively useful for party direction for tougher runs.

The 'second wind' system (sorry, but it really feels like Borderlands' system.) looks nice as well. Reduce downtime if all downtime for your party would be is waiting for phil mcslapnuts to run back froma rez point.

Same. Hoping for an invite, then I will try out PvE but really want to try WvW to see how close it comes to bringing back the DAOC feel. Had some fun RvR times in DAOC and from what I read and see in videos it looks like GW2 has the best chance of any game so far to feel the same way.

I can neither confirm or deny that stepping into the WvWvW area feels exactly like DAoC frontiers...

Oh god, and here I was trying so very hard to pretend this game didn't exist.

I would like to point out this Game Informer video, which has Jonathan Sharp (system designer) doing an interview while playing the game with and against other developers (who are not on the interview Vent). There is no new information, but I think it's nice as an overview of the game for people who don't know much or anything about GW2 and also for those who have followed it some to get a better feel for the depth of the game in general and combat in particular.

After watching that video, I do feel like I understand the direction that they're trying to go with the game quite a bit better than I did previously. I also really, really like that a single enemy running around in the world can kill you if you're not careful.

Regarding levels here, does the game autolevel you to max or some such for WvW? Looks like I'll grab a preorder this week and jump on - such a sucker for good(organized) PvP action.

It's slightly complicated. For WvW, your basic stats are autoleveled, but I believe your skills are still limited to what you've already unlocked. So a low level player will probably be at a disadvantage in the variety of utility skills and such. On the other hand, you can acquire PvE loot and skill points in WvW. In structured PvP (i.e. 5v5 arena action), you get autoleveled to 80 and temporarily unlock all skills, but there are no loot drops.

EDIT: It also should be noted that at first, you only have 1 attack skill with a given weapon, and need to kill some number of enemies before unlocking all 5 weapon skills; not sure how to unlock off-hand skills. So in structured PvP all those weapon skills would be temporarily unlocked whereas you'll still have to earn them in WvW.

I don't believe there is a digital pre-order, only pre-purchase. I am sure you can pre-order a box copy from amazon without paying, but I am not sure if you get the code that you need for the beta/weekend invite process...

It's slightly complicated. For WvW, your basic stats are autoleveled, but I believe your skills are still limited to what you've already unlocked. So a low level player will probably be at a disadvantage in the variety of utility skills and such. On the other hand, you can acquire PvE loot and skill points in WvW. In structured PvP (i.e. 5v5 arena action), you get autoleveled to 80 and temporarily unlock all skills, but there are no loot drops.

Yes, the stats you get from leveling are scaled up to what a level 80 would have, but you don't get access to any additional abilities or traits as part of the scaling and your gear remains the same. The loot you get in WvW will be appropriate for your natural level, not your scaled level (80) unless you are 80.

Viridis wrote:

EDIT: It also should be noted that at first, you only have 1 attack skill with a given weapon, and need to kill some number of enemies before unlocking all 5 weapon skills; not sure how to unlock off-hand skills. So in structured PvP all those weapon skills would be temporarily unlocked whereas you'll still have to earn them in WvW.

It's unclear exactly how off hand skills are unlocked, but just requiring that you have all three active main hand skills unlocked to work on unlocking the active off hand skills would seem the most logical answer.

EDIT: I sometimes get the 502 Bad Gateway message. The relevant part is here:

Quote:

Download InstructionsIn order to participate in the beta, you will need to download and fully update the game client, as detailed in the steps below. We recommend that you begin downloading the client as soon as possible so you are ready for the upcoming event beginning this Friday at noon PDT (GMT -8).

Create a file folder on your computer where you wish to install the game, and move the executable file there. This is where the game will save data whenever it updates. Note: If you use Windows Vista or Windows 7, it is recommended that you either do not place the game in the Program Files folder or that you run the game as an administrator.

At this point, it looks like a significant number of former DAoC players that I am in contact with intend to play on the "Sorrow's Furnace" server for WvW with "Jade Quarry" as a backup if there are issues getting getting into WvW on SF. I'm not exactly sure how that will work (you're only supposed to be able to WvW for your home server), but maybe things aren't completely implemented yet.